A water droplet erosion-induced fatigue crack propagation and failure in X20Cr13 martensitic stainless-steel turbines working at low pressure

•Turbine blade failures caused by mixed factors, including corrosion, erosion, and turbine vibrations, followed by fatigue crack growth and failure is reported.•In this study, we identified the transformation of chromium carbide precipitates in the martensitic matrix into chrome oxides during steam condensation.•Our study examines how steam impingement eroding these chromium oxides changes the surface roughness of turbine blades and how that affects the turbine vibrations.•The exhaust side of the steam turbine was subjected to a pressure drop, which caused pitting corrosion, corrosion, and surface roughness on the blades.•Although deep pits are created on the leading edges of the blades, it's interesting to note that the fatigue crack propagates from the trailing edge.